Perhaps a pilot or FA can comment....

BUT lets keep in mind that when it happened the FA had no idea of knowing it was JUST a plastic panel. From their jump seat they saw a TEN FOOT section of the interior of the aircraft fall down (presumably on passengers' heads). The FA had no idea if there was structural damage or if the TEN FOOT plastic panel posed a danger to people within the cabin in flight.

It makes perfect sense to have the plane stop if it can safely do so.


As a side note...on military transports where they don't care about ascetics it looks like this....

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...52_634x471.jpg

(Given the ample space you think they could space the rows out better!)